Apparatus for distributing a strand

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for manufacturing multiple transformers simultaneously by winding several wire coils on bobbins and applying tape over each coil includes carriage mechanisms which are independently movable along three mutually perpendicular axes and orbitally about one of the axes. Separate drive mechanisms for each mode of movement include drive motors mounted on a stationary frame, thereby reducing the mass of the moving elements of the apparatus and permitting rapid changes in speed and direction of movements. Carriage-frame structural interlocks also provide low mass with rigidity to the carriage elements. A simple winding pitch adjusting mechanism, incorporating a drive lever with a variable pivot point, also forms part of the apparatus and also has a separate frame-mounted drive motor, as does a taping mechanism for applying tape over each wound coil. A group of bobbinrotating spindles are connected to be driven by one of the framemounted carriage drive motors. The various mechanism of the apparatus are automatically operated in proper timed sequence according to programs provided for by a program-controllable card reader device and an automatic control system including a sequencing device in the form of a rotary, switch-actuating drum.

United States Patent Smith et al.

[451 Jan. 30, 1973 [54] APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTING A [57] ABSTRACTSTRAND [75] Inventors. Norman R Smith Mcthuen. Apparatus formanufacturing multiple transformers ward T Stocker G;veland a ofsimultaneously by winding several wire coils on bob- Mass bins andapplying tape over each coil includes carriage mechanisms which areindependently movable along [73] Assign st Electric p y. lncorthreemutually perpendicular axes and orbitally about p New York, one of theaxes. Separate drive mechanisms for each [22] Filed. April 27 1970 modeof movement include drive motors mounted on a stationary frame, therebyreducing the mass of the UH PP 31,890 moving elements of the apparatusand permitting rapid changes in speed and direction of movements. 52 us.01. ..242/7.11 29/203 29/605 carriage'frame Structural interlocksProvide w 74/89 74/527 242/702 242/7-09 mass with rigidity to thecarriage elements. A simple 51Int.Cl......H01t4l/06,H0lf4l/10,l-l0lf41/l2 w'nding Pitch adjustingmechanism, immporating a 58 Field of Search ..242/7.11 7.14 7.15 7.18drive ever with a variable Pi)t Pom, also forms 242/717 708 H 3 5 5 ofthe apparatus and also has a separate frame- 146/92 mounted drive motor,as does a taping mechanism for applying tape over each wound coil. Agroup of bob- [56] References Cited bin-rotating spindles are connectedto be driven by one of the frame-mounted carriage drive motors. TheUNITED STATES PATENTS various mechanism of the apparatus areautomatically operated in proper timed sequence according to progggzlgazt grams provided for by a program-controllable card 297l706 2,1961Enigs et l6 reader device and an automatic control system includ-3:228:615 1/1966 Lancasterlllw 2 42/7.11X ing a Sequencing device in theform of a rotary 3,306,554 2/1967 Henderson ..242/7.15 Switch-actuatingdrum- 3,45l,633 61969 M kh t l. .242 7.l8X

N am e a 16 Claims, 26 Drawing Figures Primary Examiner-Billy S. TaylorAttorney-W. M. Kain and R. P. Miller 237 5 I 233 m we |'l Q l 45 /45 g4/ 282 0 M7 I88 /87 232 23/ 9 /52 79 a2 0 289 ,0, [8/ 42 m 3.35 33 33A 0I 72 2794 /03 04 7 3 o ll [22 35 58 a9 7.7 74 l I 1'] 2/3 L2 224 236 47Q6 l 2/6 44 /a/ a9 si l", 277 22 I 3,224 n /27 I 1 :22 I I I i Iw I 0//PJ l 27a 2 22/ 55 l I36 I29 /24 #2475" 227 M/ H H7 /08 /09 256 46 II I2/2 I59 206 M2 3 6/ aa 278 J /62 204 268 0 1 27/ fly 44 I 1 n 252 1" 63357 68 27 /77 /761 .l I I 262 383 y 43 387 X0 I/'Z PATENIEUJMB IBI sum01 or 21 13.599

l g-l.

/9/ \o I III II I I i I I III IIIII II II II/5I6II 282 I I I (I I 0 O II I I I I I .I I @I W OI m I I I I 1 I i 0 0 I I (IIIIIIO I I I IC I I5/ O 58 I II G 62 I |I I 3H0 I|II II II Gig 60 I, I H126) 3/ 36: 6/2 M3% 2L I 26 357 352 I III I III I 356 1 23 I 'I I 302 o I I I3 36 1 I 6366 I I I 88 I I 44 330 I :37 II III 3 52 M 'I I I II III I II III II I II I k l/vve/v mFqs I N.F:' 5/77/7"H z i 5'. '7." STUC'KE'R l7 E /v55;

PATENTEUJAH 30 I975 SHEET OEUF 21 PATENTEUJAH 30 ms SHEET BBUF 21PATENTEI] JAN 3 0 I973 SHEET OSUF 21 PATENTEDJAH30 1913 3 713 599 SHEET11 [1F 21 356 358 353 7.1 g-JEE 336 I an 232 333 334 PATENTEDJAHO Ian3,713,599 sum 17 0F 21 cuflzao) 507 502 MW 1; v lfa o 508 503 327 W 3275 0 505 M i a PATENTEDJAN30 I975 SHEET 18UF 21 PHOTOEL EC 7 P/ C K UP F0/? C OUN TEE D/STR/BUT/ON ELECTRON/C COUNTER CONTROLLER PITCH AND D/ 7'PATENTEU JAN 3 0 I973 SHEET 1SUF 21 Umummmmm U E KUMIU Qmwum MW

1. In an apparatus for winding wire convolutions to form successivecoils about a bobbin having a plurality of radiating terminals whereineach coil is wound alternately with wrapping the wire about a terminal,the apparatus comprising: means for mounting the bobbin to rotate aboutits axis; a wire guide for receiving the wire; means for sequentiallyadvancing the wire guide into proximity with each successive terminal;means operated upon advance of said wire guide into proximity with eachterminal for orbiting the wire guide about the proximate terminal towrap the wire on the terminal; means operated upon each alternatewrapping of the wire on a terminal for moving the wire guide to overlaythe bobbin; means rendered effective upon each movement of the wireguide into overlaying relationship with the bobbin for reciprocating thewire guide relative to the axis of the bobbin to distribute the wirealong the bobbin; means rendered effective upon movement of the wireguide into said overlaying relationship for rotating the bobbin aboutits axis to wind convolutions of wire about the bobbin to form a coilprior to movement of the wire guide into proximity with the nextsuccessive terminal; pitch adjustment means, controlling the operationof the reciprocating means and variable incrementally through acontinuous range of pitch-controlling conditions, for varying the rateof reciprocating movement of the wire guide to vary the pitch of thewound convolutions of wire through an infinite number of intermediate,incrementally varied pitch values; and means controlling the pitchadjustment means for setting a different but constant pitch value foreach successive coil of wound convolutions.
 1. In an apparatus forwinding wire convolutions to form successive coils about a bobbin havinga plurality of radiating terminals wherein each coil is woundalternately with wrapping the wire about a terminal, the apparatuscomprising: means for mounting the bobbin to rotate about its axis; awire guide for receiving the wire; means for sequentially advancing thewire guide into proximity with each successive terminal; means operatedupon advance of said wire guide into proximity with each terminal fororbiting the wire guide about the proximate terminal to wrap the wire onthe terminal; means operated upon each alternate wrapping of the wire ona terminal for moving the wire guide to overlay the bobbin; meansrendered effective upon each movement of the wire guide into overlayingrelationship with the bobbin for reciprocating the wire guide relativeto the axis of the bobbin to distribute the wire along the bobbin; meansrendered effective upon movement of the wire guide into said overlayingrelationship for rotating the bobbin about its axis to wind convolutionsof wire about the bobbin to form a coil prior to movement of the wireguide into proximity with the next successive terminal; pitch adjustmentmeans, controlling the operation of the reciprocating means and variableincrementally through a continuous range of pitch-controllingconditions, for varying the rate of reciprocating movement of the wireguide to vary the pitch of the wound convolutions of wire through aninfinite number of intermediate, incrementally varied pitch values; andmeans controlling the pitch adjustment means for setting a different butconstant pitch value for each successive coil of wound convolutions. 2.In an apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said reciprocating meansincluding: a lever; means including a pivot pin for mounting the leverto pivot about said pivot pin; oscillatory drive means connected to afirst axial location along the lever for pivoting the lever to oscillateabout the pivot pin; and means connected between a second axial locationalong the lever and the wire guide and responsive to oscillatorymovement of the lever for reciprocating the wire guide to distributewire along the bobbin; and said pitch adjustment means including: meansadjustable through a continuous range of operating positions for movingthe pivot pin axially of the lever to vary the rate of reciprocation ofthe wire guide in response to oscillatory movement of the lever.
 3. In amechanism for distributing a strand: a guide for the strand; a lever;means including a pivotal coupling mounted to move axially of the leverintermediate opposite ends of the lever for constraining the lever tooscillate about the pivotal coupling; means engaging the lever towardone end of the lever from the pivotal coupling for oscillating the leverabout the pivotal coupling; means engaging the lever at a positionacross the pivotal coupling and toward the other end of the lever fromsaid one end and responsive to oscillating movement of the lever forreciprocating the strand guide in a linear direction, wherein saidstrand guide reciprocating means comprises; an eccentric rotary membernormally held fixed against eccentric rotation about an axis extendingperpendicularly to said linear direction; first connecting meansengaging the lever at said position for connecting the eccentric rotarymember to be reciprocated along said linear direction by oscillatingmovement of the lever; second connecting means connecting the eccentricrotary member to the strand guide and responsive to movement of theeccentric rotary member along said linear direction for reciprocatingthe strand guide in said linear direction; means for rotating theeccentric rotary member about said perpendicular axis to impart to saidsecond connecting means and to the strand guide a sinusoidally varyingreciprocating movement in said linear direction; control means,selectively operable upon the rotating means, for initiating andterminating operation of the rotating means; means engaging the leverconstraining means adjacent the pivotal coupling for moving the pivotalcoupling axially of the lever between the lever oscillating means andthe strand guide reciprocating means; and additional control means,selectively operable upon the pivotal coupling moving means, forregulating the axial position of the pivotal coupling along the lever.4. In a strand distributing mechanism as set forth in claim 3: saidlever constraining means including only a single pivot for the lever andconstraining the lever to oscillate in a single plane about the pivot.5. In a strand distributing mechanism is set forth in claim 3: saidlever constraining means mounting the pivotal coupling to move linearlyonly in a direction axial of said lever.
 6. In combination with themechanism of claim 3: third connecting means connecting the eccentricrotary member to the strand guide independently of said secondconnecting means and responsive to rotation of the eccentric rotarymember about said perpendicular axis as controlled by said secondcontrol means for imparting to the strand guide a sinusoidally varyingtranslatory component of rotary motion of the eccentric rotary member ina direction normal both to said linear direction and to saidperpendicular axis.
 7. In the combination of claim 6: said leveroscillating means, said pivotal coupling moving means and said eccentricrotary member rotating means each comprising a separate motor mountedremotely of the strand guide and fixed against reciprocatory movement.8. In a mechanism for distributing a strand: a strand guide; carriagemeans for mounting the strand guide to move linearly along first, secondand third mutually perpendicular axes and orbitally about said thirdaxis; first drive means including first motor means, mounted externallyof the carriage means at a fixed position remote therefrom, for movingthe strand guide linearly along said first axis; second drive meansincluding second motor means, mounted externally of the carriage meansat a fixed position remote from the carriage means and from the firstdrive means, for moving the strand guide linearly along said secondaxis; third drive means including third motor means, mounted externallyof the carriage means at a fixed Position remote from the carriage meansand from the first and second drive means, for moving the strand guidelinearly along said third axis; fourth drive means including fourthmotor means, mounted externally of the carriage means at a fixedposition remote from the carriage means and from the first and seconddrive means, for orbited the strand guide linearly about said thirdaxis; and control means, mounted externally of the carriage means at aposition remote from the drive means and from the first, second, thirdand fourth drive means, for selectively operating the first, second,third and fourth drive means.
 9. In a mechanism for distributing astrand as set forth in claim 8: said fourth drive means including meansoperating portions of both said first and said second drive means intimed relationship in response to said control means for impartingmutually perpendicular components of motion to the strand guide alongsaid first and second axes timed to orbit the strand guide about saidthird axis.
 10. In a mechanism for distributing a strand as set forth inclaim 8: said first drive means including an eccentric rotary memberheld fixed against rotation during operation of the first motor meansand connected to move the strand guide linearly along said first axisupon reciprocation of the eccentric rotary member along the first axis,said first drive means also including means rendered effective byoperation of the first motor means as directed by the control means forreciprocating the eccentric rotary member along the first axis; and saidfourth drive means also including the eccentric rotary member andincluding means connecting the fourth motor means to the eccentricrotary member and responsive to the control means for rotating theeccentric rotary member as part of the operation of said fourth drivemeans to impart to the strand guide a sinusoidally varying reciprocatorycomponent of movement along said first axis constituting one componentof the orbital motion of the strand guide about said third axis.
 11. Ina mechanism for distributing a strand as set forth in claim 8: saidsecond drive means including a cam rotatable by the second motor meansas directed by the control means and a cam follower connected to movethe carriage means linearly along said second axis upon such rotation ofthe cam; and said fourth drive means also including both the cam and thecam follower and including means responsive to the control meansoperating the fourth motor means for reciprocating the cam and the camfollower together along said second axis sinusoidally to provide alongsaid second axis a harmonic component of rotary motion of the carriagemeans about said third axis.
 12. In a mechanism for distributing astrand as set forth in claim 8, at least one of the drive meanscomprising: a driven member having a linear slot extending in adirection perpendicular to the axis of movement provided by said onedrive means; a rotary drive shaft having an eccentric portion extendingalong an axis of the shaft; means for mounting the rotary drive shaft torotate about the shaft axis with the shaft axis extendingperpendicularly both to the axis of movement provided by said one drivemeans and to the direction of the linear slot and with the eccentricportion passing through the slot; and means connecting the motor meansof said one drive means to the rotary drive shaft and responsive to thecontrol means for rotating the rotary drive shaft about the shaft axisto move the driven member along the axis of movement provided by saidone drive means.
 13. In a mechanism for distributing a strand as setforth in claim 8, said carriage means comprising: a strand guidesupporting member having a pair of elongated toothed projecting elementsextending parallel to one of said axes; means engaging the elongatedprojecting elements of the strand guide supporting member for mountingthe strand guide supporting member to Move along said one axis; a shaft;means for mounting the shaft to rotate about an axis extendingsubstantially between the elongated projecting elements of the strandguide; and a pair of pinions mounted to the shaft with the teeth of eachpinion enmeshed with the teeth of a different one of the projectingelements of the strand guide.
 14. In a mechanism for distributing astrand as set forth in claim 8: normally inactive means associated withone of said drive means for varying the rate of movement of the strandguide in response to operation of the motor means of said one drivemeans; and fifth drive means selectively operable by said control meansand including fifth motor means mounted externally of the carriage meansat a position remote therefrom for activating and operating said ratevarying means to vary the rate of movement of the strand guide inresponse to operation of the motor of said one drive means.
 15. In amechanism for distributing a strand as set forth in claim 14: said onedrive means comprising a lever connected to reciprocate the strand guidealong the axis of movement provided by said one drive means upon pivotalmovement of the lever and a pivotal coupling movable axially of thelever while mounting the lever to pivot about the coupling forreciprocating the strand guide; and said fifth drive means comprisingmeans responsive to the control means for moving the pivotal couplingaxially of the strand guide reciprocating lever.